Tell Him (Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion song)

On March 24, 1997, Dion became the first artist to perform twice on the same Academy Awards night. In addition to singing "Because You Loved Me," she also sang "I Finally Found Someone" from the film The Mirror Has Two Faces, recorded by Barbra Streisand and Bryan Adams. Streisand chose not to perform that night, and Natalie Cole had been scheduled to sing the song instead. When Cole withdrew two days before the ceremony, Dion was asked to step in. Although nervous, she accepted and performed on the night.

A few days later, Streisand sent Dion flowers and a note: "I watched the tape afterwards, you sang my song beautifully and I regret I wasn't in the room to hear you, next time let's make one together. I really wish your song would have won, you are a wonderful singer". Dion replied, and René Angélil contacted David Foster to write a song for them, which resulted in "Tell Him".^[1] Dion, who cited Streisand as one of her most important idols, had long hoped to sing with her but feared getting too close, explaining, "It takes practically nothing to destroy your image of them. And just as little to crush you".^[2] Streisand was first introduced to Dion's music several years earlier by tennis player Andre Agassi.^[3]

A radio edit of the song was commissioned. It runs the same length as the album version, and includes a high-frequency flute line during Dion's bridge. On October 7, 1997, "Tell Him" received its first United States radio play.^[4] The single was originally scheduled for a US retail release on November 4, 1997, but this plan was canceled despite copies already having been manufactured. Theda Sandiford-Waller of Billboard attributed the decision to the track's weak performance at top 40 radio.^[5]

Streisand and Dion were scheduled to perform the duet at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, where the song was nominated; this would have been its first live performance.^[6] However, the performance was canceled after Streisand contracted the flu.^[7] The illness prevented her from attending the rehearsal with Dion,^[8] although Streisand later stated that she had originally intended to perform regardless.^[6] Her spokesperson said that she was "extremely disappointed that she won't be able to sing because of her continuing flu and fever".^[7]

The song received positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote in his review of Let's Talk About Love that the track "shines the most brilliantly".^[9] In his review of Higher Ground, he singled it out and noted, "Higher Ground comprises both traditional religious songs and new material (even "Tell Him," an overblown duet with Celine Dion, vaguely touches on that theme)".^[10] AllMusic editor Matthew Greenwald wrote in his single review, "Their voices blend together extremely well on this song, with both singers trading off and joining together with a wonderful reassurance. Musically, the song is dominated by what is, unfortunately, a somewhat bombastic arrangement. This tends to get in the way of the very pretty melody. The overall arrangement seems to come out of the 1980s school of over-production, and it is a bit cloying. However, the vocalists take the song to a higher place with their performance, and the song and recording have aged fairly well despite this".^[11]

Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Talk about an event. Two of pop music's best voices are united on a grand, wonderfully over-the-top ballad that will melt the heart of even the most jaded listener. No one will be able to resist the electricity resulting from the blend of their voices on what will likely become a quintessential "girlfriend" anthem. Dion denizens who have long touted the Canadian diva as a likely successor to the Streisand throne will find validation in a recording that shows how equally matched their performances are. Who else but David Foster and Walter Afanasieff could preside over such a monumental production? No one — as evidenced in an arrangement that sparks with orchestral flourishes. No need to predict the hit potential of this gem. Just start monitoring its chart progressions".^[12]

Entertainment Weekly editor David Browne wrote, "Streisand glides like buttah into the duet Tell Him — making Dion sound like margarine in the process — but the song is an uberschlock ode to subservience".^[13] British magazine Music Week rated the song three out of five, adding that "Streisand and Dion's vocals blend effortlessly on this powerful ballad, showcasing the pair's remarkable ranges".^[14] The New York Observer editor Jonathan Bernstein stated that "the centerpiece of Let's Talk About Love is "Tell Him", a duet with Barbra Streisand. Anyone who's witnessed, through the cracks of his or her fingers, the video for "Tell Him" in which Ms. Dion relates to Ms. Streisand like a newly born fawn nuzzling up against its mother, will sense that this is no diva face-off. The two singers give each other room to emote, restraining themselves until the final choruses before transforming into something akin to a pair of drunks wrestling over the microphone on karaoke night".^[15] However, the duet also drew several unfavorable reviews.^[6]

In the United States, the song peaked at number five on the Billboard' Adult Contemporary chart and number 58 on the Billboard' Radio Songs chart. It performed strongly outside the US. Although airplay in the UK was similarly limited, it still became the 33rd best-selling single of 1997 there.^[16] The song reached the top 10 in over 15 countries, including the UK (number three), Ireland (number two), Italy (number four), France (number four), and Australia (number nine). It also peaked at number three on the European Hot 100 Singles chart and appeared on several year-end charts in 1997 and 1998. The single earned platinum certifications in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia, and gold certifications in the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Switzerland, and Norway.

The music video for the song was directed by American producer and director Scott Lochmus and premiered on VH1 on October 24, 1997. It was later included as a bonus on the Au cœur du stade DVD.

• European CD single

1. "Tell Him" (radio edit) – 4:51
2. "Tell Him" (album version) – 4:51

• European and Japanese CD single; Australian and UK cassette and CD single

1. "Tell Him" (radio edit) – 4:51
2. "Everything Must Change" – 4:03
3. "Where Is the Love" – 4:59

• European 12-inch single

1. "Tell Him" (radio edit) – 4:51
2. "Everything Must Change" – 4:03
3. "Tell Him" (album version) – 4:51
4. "Where Is the Love" – 4:59

• 1997 in British music
• French Top 100 singles of the 1990s
• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1997
• List of UK top-ten singles in 1997